Birth & Postpartum Doulas Near Me in Santa Cruz, CA

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174

Doula providers near Santa Cruz

5.0★

Average rating from 276 reviews

$1,500

Median package price See cost guide

63%

Accept insurance

83

Families requested a doula nearby in the last 90 days

From providers and requests on Bornbir. Updated September 2026.

Found 174 Doulas near Santa Cruz, CA

Sarah Denton

Santa Cruz, California

5.0 (1 review)

Sarah Denton

2 years of experience
Accepts insurance

I am a full-spectrum doula trained by Doula Trainings International (DTI) and hold a Bachelor's degree from San Jose State University. After experiencing the challenges new parents face firsthand with the arrival of my own two children, I dedicated myself to improving support for families during this transformative time. I firmly believe in the power of community, as captured by the phrase “it takes a village.” I am committed to being that supportive presence for your family, guiding you through every aspect of the birth, labor, and postpartum experience.

Recent review

Sarah was an unwavering source of support during one of the most physically and emotionally challenging experiences of my life. After choosing to have an at-home abortion, I found myself in the hospital due to unmanageable pain and later faced complications and prolonged bleeding for over two months. Through it all, Sarah was there—offering not just physical comfort, but deep emotional and mental support. She provided reassurance when I felt scared, advocated for me when I felt unheard, and helped me navigate the overwhelming aftermath with patience and compassion. Her presence was a lifeline, creating a safe space where I could process my emotions without judgment. Whether it was through gentle encouragement, grounding techniques, or simply holding space for my emotions, Sarah made sure I never felt alone in my healing process. I am beyond grateful for her kindness, knowledge, and unwavering care during such a difficult time.

- Lena W.

Klarity Coleman

Santa Cruz, California

5.0 (4 reviews)

Klarity Coleman

20 years of experience
Accepts insurance

I’m Klarity Coleman (they/them), a Clinical Hypnotherapist, Birth & Postpartum Doula, Prenatal Yoga Instructor, and Birth Hypnotherapy Childbirth Educator with over a decade of experience. Birth Hypnotherapy is also known as Hypnobirthing. I specialize in anxiety, birth, fertility, and prenatal yoga, with a strong focus on fear release and trauma-informed hypnotherapy. As a birth trauma specialist, I help families navigate getting pregnant, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with confidence, using proven techniques to ease fear and promote a positive experience. Whether you prefer virtual sessions or in-person support, I’m here to guide you. I proudly serve families across Monterey and Santa Cruz counties along with the bay area. I am able to bill Kaiser for reimbursement of doula services. If you are interested in learning more please schedule a free consultation with me. www.CreatingKlarity.com hypnotherapy@creatingklarity.com 831-293-9297

Recent review

Klarity is a healer in the traditional sense of the word. Thanks to their caring questions and intuition, they deeply understood my husband and me and tailored our birthing classes and hypnotherapy sessions accordingly. Not only did they prepare us for birth, but for parenting itself. Thanks to our work together, I had the calm, empowered birth I hoped for. They were the best doula we could have asked for! In addition to their technical skill and training as a doula, they are also a gifted energy worker. Time after time, they helped us shift energy into more positive, value-driven directions, in the birthing classes as well as in the delivery room. In Klarity’s hands you will experience deep care and wise advocacy.

- Joanna G.

Marlene Kleffel

Boulder Creek, California

Marlene Kleffel

2 years of experience
Accepts insurance

I began my doula journey in July of 2024, and I’ve had the privilege of supporting families through the beautiful, transformative experience of childbirth. Whether I’m helping first-time parents navigate the birth process or providing reassurance to parents welcoming their second, third, or even more children, my role is to create a space of calm, connection, and empowerment. I am a certified doula through The Circle Family Center, an organization dedicated to supporting expectant parents through educational classes, workshops, and community groups. Their holistic approach to parenthood has shaped my practice, and I strive to mirror that support by helping parents feel informed, confident, and fully supported throughout their birth journey. As your doula, my focus is on your unique needs and desires, ensuring that you feel heard, respected, and empowered during your birth experience. I am here to offer physical, emotional, and informational support before, during, and after labor, helping you feel calm, confident, and fully present for one of the most important moments of your life. Your body knows how to birth and having a support team to ensure, guide, and advocate for you during this process is so important to having an empowering birth you can look back on. Whether you’re planning a home birth, a hospital birth, or anything in between, I look forward to supporting you as you bring new life into the world. I cannot wait to chat with you.

Stacy Avalos

Campbell, California

Stacy Avalos

22 years of experience
Accepts insurance

Stacy Avalos, owner of Rooted Willow Services, Inc.! Offers her services with over 20 years of experience in supporting infants and families, she is dedicated to providing exceptional care and guidance during the transformative journey of parenthood. As a highly trained and passionate labor & postpartum doula, Stacy offers a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet the unique needs of each family. From prenatal support to postpartum care, her expertise covers a wide spectrum of areas. Stacy's extensive background includes specialized training as a doula, newborn care specialist, prenatal and postpartum nutrition coach, newborn sleep consultant, and mental health specialist. This diverse skill set enables her to address multiple aspects of the perinatal period, ensuring a holistic and personalized approach to support your family's well-being. Whether you're an expectant parent seeking assistance during pregnancy, looking for guidance with newborn care and breastfeeding, or seeking support with postpartum mental health, Rooted Willow Services, Inc. is here to provide compassionate care, evidence-based information, and practical strategies to empower and guide you through this transformative time. Experience the difference of a seasoned doula with a genuine passion for helping families thrive. Contact Rooted Willow Services, Inc. today to embark on your journey towards a positive and fulfilling parenting experience.

Leticia Butruce

Campbell, California

5.0 (10 reviews)

Leticia Butruce

4 years of experience
Accepts insurance

I’m Leticia Butruce, a Brazilian-born, U.S.-based certified postpartum doula with a lifelong passion for caring for babies and supporting families. With an extensive background in childcare and family assistance, along with training through DONA International, I offer compassionate, hands-on support during one of life’s biggest transitions—welcoming a new baby. Whether you need daytime help with your routine, overnight newborn care, or support during postpartum recovery, I’m here to bring calm, care, and confidence to your growing family.

Recent review

We were so grateful to have Leticia support us from the very first night we brought our newborn home from the hospital. She is calm, compassionate, highly professional, and incredibly knowledgeable. She provided invaluable guidance on newborn and postpartum care, including breastfeeding, pumping, bottle feeding, bathing, soothing, and sleep. After my C-section, she also went above and beyond to help with my recovery by assisting me with getting in and out of bed and making sure I always had my pump parts, water, snacks, and anything else I needed. What we appreciated most was how respectful she was of our home and our parenting choices while offering thoughtful, practical advice. She gave us confidence as first-time parents and made those early weeks so much easier. I highly recommend Leticia to any family looking for a caring, experienced, and dependable postpartum doula.

- Pratiti M.

Kathy Kocharhook

San Jose, California

5.0 (9 reviews)

Kathy Kocharhook

23 years of experience

As a Registered Nurse, Certified Sleep Consultant and Certified Postpartum Doula with more than 23 years of full -time night experience, my goal is creating confident parents. Caring for more than 250 newborns has given me a wealth of experience in transitional care of babies into family life. This is accomplished by establishing successful feed/sleep routines, teaching calming techniques and answering the myriad questions that would be in a manual if babies came with one. This enables everyone to get much needed rest much sooner than is typically experienced in this scenario. As a Certified Sleep Consultant, also known as "The Sleep Angel" I also assist families who have not had the benefit of my guidance from the beginning of life with their baby. Tackling issues of sleep disturbance/interruption in older infants/toddlers with gentle, supportive techniques results in peace in the home environment that only sleep can provide. I look forward to meeting and working with you and your little one!

Recent review

We feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with Kathy. She has been our sleep coach for both of our children, and her experience, wisdom, and calm presence made all the difference. She truly is a baby whisperer. What we appreciated most was how she met us exactly where we were as parents. She never offered a one-size-fits-all approach—instead, she listened, understood our family's needs, and provided thoughtful, practical guidance with a lot patience and kindness. She's incredibly gracious, insightful, and genuinely cares about the families she works with. We always felt supported, encouraged, and confident knowing she was in our corner. We're so grateful for everything she did for our family and recommend to parents looking for compassionate, expert sleep support.

- Isabelle C.

Naoko Sumii

Cupertino, California

5.0 (6 reviews)

Naoko Sumii

15 years of experience
Accepts insurance

Hello! I’m Naoko. I am a Japanese-trained midwife, birth and postpartum doula, lactation counselor, childbirth educator, and mother of four. Before moving to the United States, I worked as a midwife in Japan, supporting families throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Since moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, I have continued supporting families as a doula with compassionate, evidence-based, and personalized care. My approach is centered on the person giving birth. I believe every birthing person deserves to feel heard, respected, informed, and supported in making decisions that are right for them and their family. I draw on both my medical knowledge and my personal experience raising four children to provide practical, compassionate, and individualized support. I welcome families of all backgrounds, races, cultures, gender identities, and sexual orientations, including LGBTQ+ families. I support a wide range of birth preferences and experiences, including unmedicated birth, epidural birth, induction, VBAC, and cesarean birth. I also offer childbirth education, breastfeeding and lactation guidance, prenatal yoga, and bilingual support in English and Japanese. My goal is to help each family feel confident, supported, and empowered throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum journey.

Recent review

Having Naoko by our side during the birth was the very first gift our baby received. Now, two years later, I've come to realize even more just how much her presence and support meant to us. She quickly recognized that my labor was progressing much faster than expected. With her calm guidance and timely advice, we were able to communicate seamlessly with the hospital staff and make the right decisions at every step. She also thoughtfully connected a video call so that my daughter and my husband, who couldn't be in the delivery room, could still share the moment my son entered the world. Thanks to Naoko, the moment arrived in a calm, joyful atmosphere, and everyone in the room cheered, "The party's starting!" It remains one of my most treasured memories, and every time I think about it, I'm filled with happiness and gratitude. I wholeheartedly recommend Naoko to anyone looking for a birth doula. She brings not only exceptional knowledge and professionalism, but also genuine warmth, compassion, and a reassuring presence. She gave our family a gift that will stay with us for years to come.

- Ryoko T.

Thaiz Brasil

San Jose, California

5.0 (3 reviews)

Thaiz Brasil

18 years of experience
Accepts insurance

Hello families! My name is Thaiz Brasil, and I’m a certified Postpartum Doula and Newborn Care Specialist with over 17 years of hands-on infant care experience. I’m Trusline certified, CPR certified, and also a proud mom of four amazing boys. For the past 6 years, I’ve been honored to serve families as a postpartum doula and newborn care specialist—providing not only practical support but also reassurance, guidance, and encouragement during such a tender stage of life. I’m located in the 95111 area and happy to travel up to 45 miles to support your family. I have such a passion for my career and for every family I come across. It’s truly a gift to be invited into a home during this beautiful transition, and my goal is always to help parents feel confident, cared for, and supported while giving their babies the best possible start.

Recent review

Becoming first-time parents after 40 came with its share of excitement and anxieties, and having Thaiz by our side made all the difference. As both a newborn care specialist and postpartum doula, she brought such calm, warmth, and expertise into our home—caring for our baby with incredible gentleness while also supporting us as new parents. She answered our endless questions, helped us build confidence, and always knew whether we needed guidance, reassurance, or simply rest. Beyond her skills, what stood out most was her kindness and nurturing spirit; she felt like part of the family. We’re so grateful for her care and would wholeheartedly recommend her to any new parents.

- Linda J.

Gretchen Retka

San Jose, California

5.0 (1 review)

Gretchen Retka

15 years of experience

Parents: please share your EDD & contact info in the message body 🙏🏾 Birth doula of 13 years. This is my calling in life to be of service to labor/birth. I’m very grateful to have this as my service in this lifetime and believe every new life is a gift to be honored with care, love and respect for the process. Trained in techniques that encourage optimal fetal positioning by finding balance in the body (more comfort during pregnancy as well as labor/birth) optimal positioning helps labor be more comfortable, increasing odds of a efficient and smoother vaginal birth. I share these techniques with my clients in the third trimester to decrease the use of interventions & prevent trauma. Also practicing placenta encapsulation and massage therapy at Full Moon Birth & Family Wellness Center.

Recent review

We had the most magical natural unmedicated birth experience in a hospital and we owe so much of it to Gretchen. Right from our first interaction when we were interviewing birth doulas, we were drawn by her warm nature. Her prenatal visits were extremely helpful be it the exercises she taught us to enable an optimal baby position for birth or her inputs into crafting our birth plan. We would have been lost with the information overload if not for her timely, targeted and super informative educational resources that have been extremely helpful to us as first time parents. She has always been a text or phone call away to address anything we needed. She brought in a sign of relief when she entered the labor room...her calming presence during my final stretch of labor and the positions she guided me through definitely helped me avoid an epidural. The icing on the cake was her singing a lullaby to our little one upon birth, it felt divine. She also captured beautiful moments of our baby's birth that we will cherish forever. I will always remember her positive affirmation 'You are stronger than you think!'. Can't thank you enough Gretchen for being the rockstar that you are and all your support to growing families :)

- Gita Sowmya P.

Katelyn Berry

San Jose, California

5.0 (13 reviews)

Katelyn Berry

3 years of experience
Accepts insurance

Hi, my name is Katelyn, and I’m a certified Full-Spectrum doula. I have experience supporting families through VBAC, high-risk pregnancies, and IVF journeys. I believe that every birth story is unique, and my role is to provide steady, compassionate support—emotionally, physically, and informationally—through each step of the process. My background includes working closely with clients navigating complex or medically supported births, and I’m deeply committed to creating a calm, empowering space where families feel safe, heard, and in control of their choices. Whether you’re preparing for a vaginal birth after cesarean, managing a high-risk pregnancy, welcoming a baby after fertility treatment, or have a generally "normal" pregnancy, I’m here to walk beside you with care and confidence. It’s an honor to support families during such a transformative time, and I’m grateful to be part of this work.

Recent review

There aren’t enough words to express how grateful we are for Katelyn. She wasn’t just our doula—she became one of the biggest sources of support during one of the most important and emotional times of our lives. Before our daughter was born, Katelyn prepared us with thoughtful education and guidance that helped us feel ready for birth and parenthood. When our delivery unexpectedly turned into an emergency C-section, she didn’t just check in—she showed up. She came to the hospital the very next morning, helped us navigate everything, answered our questions, and made sure we felt supported during an experience that was far different than we had imagined. Having Katelyn as our night doula afterward was one of the best decisions we made. From the very first night, we knew our daughter was in the safest, most loving hands. Her knowledge, warmth, and confidence allowed us to finally rest, knowing someone we completely trusted was caring for our baby. She anticipated our needs, reassured us through every challenge, and gave us peace of mind when we needed it most. Katelyn has a rare combination of expertise, kindness, and genuine compassion. She made us feel supported every step of the way and helped transform an unexpected birth experience into a positive postpartum journey. We will always be thankful for the care she gave our family, and we wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for an outstanding doula. She is simply the best.

- Ria M.

Shakila Marando

San Francisco, California

5.0 (6 reviews)

Shakila Marando

17 years of experience
Accepts insurance

My name is Shakila Marando, and I am the founder of DOULAS by the BAY. I am a mother of two and have spent over 25 years working with children and families, including the last 17 years supporting families as a doula through pregnancy, birth, and the early newborn days. This work comes from a deep belief that no family should ever feel alone during this journey. I work closely alongside our team of doulas, sharing the same commitment to compassionate, evidence-based care. Together, we have supported thousands of families across Northern and Southern California, providing steady guidance, reassurance, and hands-on support when it matters most. Our doulas are carefully selected, certified, and deeply cared for. Every team member is Birth and Postpartum Certified, Perinatal Mood Disorders Certified, CPR trained, HIPAA compliant, fully vetted, and insured. With ongoing mentorship and professional development, we ensure families receive safe, reliable, and heart-centered care in their homes. I created DOULAS by the BAY to build a trusted, supportive space where families feel seen, informed, and confident—while expanding access to doula care and strengthening our community, one family at a time.

Recent review

Shakila is the best there is. We did not have a night doula for our first child. For our second, we needed one because I had to go back to work right away. I was very nervous about leaving my baby with someone else during the night hours, particularly at just two weeks. Shakila let me control as much of the process as I wanted to so I always felt like she was doing what I wanted. She has a magical touch with babies and had our daughter sleeping through the night by two months old. She would not even leave in the morning until the baby was back to sleep, which allowed us an extra hour of sleep on top of the time she was with us. She was worth every penny and then some. THANK YOU SHAKILA! We miss you.

- Gabriella Rosen Kellerman

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Recent doula reviews near Santa Cruz

Finding Ginger less than a month before my due date felt like pure fate—she literally approached us as we were walking out the door at a Meet the Doulas event, and we felt instantly warm, comfortable, and at ease with her. My labor didn't exactly go on schedule (he arrived almost two weeks late and required an induction!), but Ginger was our absolute anchor through every single moment of it. She is such a nurturing, loving, and caring maternal soul—so much so that we affectionately call her "Aunt Ginger." Leading up to and during the induction, she gave us incredible guidance, helping us try to get things moving naturally with advice on pressure points and keeping us grounded. Throughout the hospital stay, whenever the medical staff left the room, Ginger would quietly review everything with us, help us process what the doctors had said, and make sure we remembered the questions we wanted to ask. When the medical team brought up using a vacuum during delivery, Ginger gently encouraged us to pause, push back, and ask for time to discuss our options. Having her there to prep, advocate, and vouch for us meant everything—we ended up having a completely intervention-free birth and welcomed a perfectly healthy, beautiful 10-pound baby. Ginger was truly an angel during one of the most intense experiences of my life, and she is someone we will remember and cherish forever. If you are looking for a doula who will treat you like family, protect your birth experience, and pour her whole heart into supporting you, hire Ginger immediately!

— Katie K., review of Leah (Ginger) Johnson August 2026

Highly recommend, Fey is super knowledgeable, kind, trustworthy, I always knew we can rely on her 100%. She is amazing not only with practical advices and help, but also incredible emotional support ❤️

— Santa Bērziņa, review of Fey Fell August 2026

Fey is one of those people who immediately makes you feel comfortable. She is warm, patient, caring, and incredibly trustworthy. You can tell how much she genuinely cares about the families she works with. I couldn’t recommend her enough!

— Ariane Sieh, review of Fey Fell August 2026

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